Lauren Kessler

PNBA Award, Oregon Book Award, Library Journal Award

Lauren Kessler is an award-winning author, (semi) fearless immersion reporter and self-designated guinea pig journalist who combines lively narrative with deep research to explore everything from the wild, wild west of the anti-aging movement to the stormy seas of the mother-daughter relationship. Her eight works of narrative nonfiction include two Oregon Book Award winners, a Pacific Book Award winner and a book that landed her on David Letterman. Twice. Her new book, Raising the Barre: Big Dreams, False Starts and My Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker, chronicles her journey to reclaim the daring of her girlhood by dancing the world’s most popular ballet with a professional company. It’s about shaking things up, taking risks and ignoring good sense.